The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1887-01-28
Interstate Commerce Bill.

The Interstate Commerce Bill! which
has been pending a long time vas passed
By Congress last week. The bin is some
whit flexible in IT'S requirements and
application, from The fact that it pT0-
+ vides for a commission to be appointed, +,
consisting Of i've men. to put the new
regulation in force. Much will depend
( upon the judgment, ability and fairness
/ of the commissioners whether the law
proves the public advantage claimed for
I it. Following are some of the most vital
4 provisions of the bill:
/ SEC. ?. That if any common carrier
subject to the provisions of this act shall
directly or indirectly, by ary special
rate, rebate, drawback or other device,
charge, demand, collect or receive from
any person or persons a greater or less
compensation for any service rendered,
or to be rendered, In the transportation
( of passengers or property, subject to the
provisions of this act, than it charges,
demands, collects or receives from any
other person or persons for doing for him
or them like and contemporaneOus SER
vice in the transportation of like kind
of traffic under substantially similar
circumstances and conditions, such COM
mon carrier shall be deemed guilty of
unjust discrimination, which is hereby
prohibited and declared to be unlawful.
Sec 8 That it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier subject co the pro-
visions of this act to make or give any
undue or unreasonable preference or
advantage to any particular person,
company, firm, corporation OF locality
or anv particular description of traffic
to any undue or unreasonable prejudice
or disadvantage whatsoever. Every
common carrier subject to the provisions
of thus act shall, according to their re-
spective powers, afford all reasonable,
proper and equal facilities for the inter
change OF traffic between their lines, and
for the receiving, forwarding and deliv-
ering of passengers and property 10 and
from their several lines and those con-
Meeting herewith. and shall not dis
cTiminate in their rates and charges
between such connecting lines but this
shall not be construed as requiring any
such common carrier to give the use q!
it's tracks OF terminal facilities to anoth-
er carrier engaged in like business.
SEC. 1, That il shall he unlawful for
any common carrier subject to the pro-
visions of this act to charge or receive
any greater compensation in the aggre-
gaze TOT Tue transportation OI passengers
or of like kind of property, under sub
startially similar circumstances and
conditions, for a shorter than for longer
distance over the same line, in the same
direction. the shorter being included in
the longer distance but this shall not
be construed as authorizing any common
carrier within the terms of this act TO
charge and receive as great cOmpeTsa-
tiOn for "A shorter as a longer distance
! Provided, however that upon application
TO the commission appointed Under this
act such common carrier may, in special
/ cases. after Investigation by the com
| mission, be AUTHORIZED to charge less for
/ longer han for shorter distances for the
| trauspo alton of passengers or property;
| and the commission may from time TO
! time prescribe The extent to which such
| common carrier may be relieved from
! the operation of this section Of this act.
! SEC. 5. That it shall be unlawful for
| any common carrier subject to the pro-
/ siOns of this act to enter into any con-
4 tract, agreement or combination with
any other common carrier OF carriers for
| the pooling of fTeIghts of different and
! competing railroads. or to divide betwt Gu
! them the aggregate or net proceeds of
the earnings of such railroads, or OF any
portion thereof and in any case Of an
/ agreemen for the pooling Of freights as
1 Aforesaid, each day of its continuance
shall be deemed a separate offense.